Here's what's up:

I am getting a book published through the company Publish America. Now, my parents didn't really seem to be too supportive. I told my dad they were publishing my book, then he goes on the website Ripoff Report: By Consumers, For Consumers I mean, what kind of support is that?

Anyway, I was wondering about others opinions on this publishing company, I read a few on ripoffreport.com, but they seemed more interested in making the company look bad than give their opinion.

So, anyone heard of them? Anyone got an opinion? I only have support from two people. Niether of them being my parents, or even family.

Im no expert, but I know that PA doesn't have the best reputation as a publisher. I'm sorry if you aren't finding support, it sucks to feel that way, but maybe it's for the better. The criticism thrown at PA is that they are basically just cheap, the'll pay you small and not give you much benefits or even good editing other companies might. I mean who knows, maybe it's better than nothing -everybody has to start somewhere; but just try to make the best decision even if it hurts

For the past 13 years, I have been a cataloguer at a Chicago area public library. During the previous 13 years, I worked as a book shelver, as the head of circulation, and as a reference librarian. Until this very moment reading terminator's post, I had never heard of Publish America nor have I ever touched a book published by them.

I have had four books published by a CA small press and know how publishing works. I looked at PA's site and at the RipOff site. My best guess, despite everything PA says, is that they PRINT your book and then post it on their site, but do not market it (but leave that job to the author).

I would never approach PA with a manuscript. If I cannot find a legitimate publisher (not PRINTER -- and I could print my own mss. Just fine if I wanted to), I would believe either the time had not yet come for my ms. or it was not publishable.

They do no advertiesment for your book. They are only interested in selling books to everyone in your family and all your friends. Then, they feel they have made money. You paying for the publishing and your family and friends buying your book is really the bulk of their income. The big book stores shy away from stocking books from vanity presses. The books are to over priced to give a good discount to a large bookseller. Shall I go on?
Unless you have the next Harry Potter and it suddenly gets "discovered" in the midst of the other ten million new "authors" out there flooding the publishers with unwanted manuscripts, you are in for a disapointment with Publish America or any other vanity publisher.
If it is not fiction or poetry you may have a chance with the smaller niche publishers though. If it is a Geek book, Microsoft owns their own publishing company.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Wondergirl

I would never approach PA with a manuscript. If I cannot find a legitimate publisher (not PRINTER -- and I could print my own mss. just fine if I wanted to), I would believe either the time had not yet come for my ms. or it was not publishable.

---

If you approach Publish America with a manuscript and a few hundred dollars, they will publish it. They will publish anything. Some writers wrote a short novel a few years back that made absolutely no sense at all. If you read it for more than 5 minutes, you got a headache! Publish America published it!

If I give/promise a publisher money to publish my book, that publisher is a vanity press.

Even small presses will give authors advances to show interest and later royalties based on book sales. Small presses will also do the marketing via word of mouth, sales brochures, attendance at bookseller and library conventions as well as at book fairs and teacher conferences, whatever is appropriate to the subject of the books they promote.

Press Release.